Crawford Allan, Regional Director, TRAFFIC North America, has translated his passion for the natural world into a long and fulfilling career. While he has seen the impact of illegal killing of rare species first hand and uncovered illicit wildlife trade in blackmarkets in dozens of countries, he remains hopeful.

Rhino poaching crisis in South Africa is at an unprecedented level. A new report details how the fate of South Africa’s rhinos is inextricably linked with market demand in Vietnam—a country that recently saw its own rhino population slip into extinction.

On Tuesday, December 4, WWF joins the U.S. State Department in its Wildlife Conservation Day. The event highlights the need to conserve and protect endangered species—specifically elephants, rhinos and tigers. Together with the State Department and other conservation orgainzations, we aim to raise awareness about the harmful security, economic and environmental effects of wildlife poaching and trafficking.

Far from an embassy or diplomatic meeting room, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney spent a day on patrol with wildlife rangers. Inside Kui Buri National Park in southwest Thailand, Ambassador Kenney learned firsthand the challenges rangers face as they work to protect nature.